Work guide for sewing machines



y 7, 1953 w. D. HARROD 2,644,411

WORK GUIDE FOR SEWING MACHINES Filed April 24, 1951 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. I WILLAM DALLAS HARROD ATTORNEY;

y 7, 1953 w. D. HARROD WORK GUIDE FOR SEWING MACHINES 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed April 24, 1951 FIG? INVENTOR. WILLIAM DALLAS HARROD ATTORNEY.

v U ITE-o STAT Patented July 7, 1953 Es PATENT OFFICE WORK GUIDE FOR SEWING MAC HINES William -D. Harrod, GreensbormN. ,0 assignor to Union Special MachineCompa y. Chicago, Ill., a corporation oflllinois 3 Application April 24, 1951, Serial-No".1222,62? v l ihis invention relates to work guides for sewing machines and more particularly to uncurler the openings provided in the clamping boots of the device for cooperating with a guide pin carried'by the central support-member. This'has been due to the tendency of the selvage edges to curloutwardly'again as they pass the openings.

-60 also in cases in'which the knitter ha's'l'eft a fr'e end of knitting thread at the selvage edge this has become caught between the guide pin and the edge ofthe opening in one of the boots. In either event the proper feeding of the work is interfered with and pleats-are produced in the "seam; andthe heels or other parts of the blank have 'had'stheir "edges mis-matche'd. Difficulty has also been encountered in keeping the'work -properly in the guide. These difficulties. have been particularly encountered in the seaming" of theheelportions of the blank becausethe edges -are. held somewhat higher in the'guide inthe ."sewing of this part of the stocking in order to form a deeper overedge seam; I

Aprimaryobjectlof the present invention has been to vprovide'an uncurler guide which is free o'ithe difficulties explained above and which-will mpresent the'selvage edges of hosieryblanks and the like to the feed cups of the machinein-a to insure uniform seam.formation.- 5

way

tened conditionand without pulling orpleating,

to the stitch forming'devices. Thexmain uncurl- -.ing action is performed in the conventionalmanner as the selvage edges are drawn into the pas- .will'b'e understood that the parts of thermachine 'whichare not illustrated on described mayisuit- I s Claims. (o1.112-20)-.-f

tendency of the blank to dropout is counteracted by the-'retainingeffect of certain uncurling pro- ,jections.

. Other obj ects," features, and advantages oilthe invention will-appear from the detailed description..of 38.11 illustrativeembodiment of thesame ,whichWillnow begiven inconjunction with the accompanying. drawings, in which: I

. Fig. 12-13 a frontelevational View of theupper left hand portion of aycupieed sewing machine embodying the invention :7.

Fig. 2 'is a detail view along theLline a-i or Fig. :1; in: side elevation as-viewedfrom the .left injFigwl, of the lower portion of the uncurler guide;

Fig. 3 is a view of the parts shown in Fig. 2 as seen from theleftin Fig. 2; V r

Field-is a detail view, in side elevatiomof one 20 of the boot elements forming partof the uncurler Fig. 5 is,;a bottom view of the uncurler guide;

guide;

Fig. .6 is aiview showing a hosiery blank, par

."Itially seamed, inits relation to the uncurler guide "has been'illustrated asappliedto a cupjeed sew- ;ingmachine. ,of the general type illustrated .in

' the Rubel,;.et al.- Batent No. 2,043,711, granted 'June. 9,.-;1.936,:or in the 'Hacklander; Patent No.

2,043,148, granted June 9,1936; {Since the inven- Y 'tion relates to the uncurler/guide and means col operatingswithit, only those portions of the machine are 'illustratedand Will-be described; It

' ably" be-"of thericharacter :shownin. either, the

' Rubel," e't alti'patent 'or thexl-Iacklander patent .mentioned;above: frame adapted to enclose the operating mechanism :;-in a lubricant tight housing, this frame comprising a vertical-standsagebetween the inner faces of a pair of spring vurged boot members and the opposed faces of a stationary guide blade, while a second uncurling l actiontakesplace just beyond the guide, pinand quite close to the point of delivery of the flattened edgesto the feed cups. This second uncurling uncurling' action the blank is retained by the -gui-de in proper position forpresentation-to the feed cups andthe-stitch forming devices. Ihev ard portion' ;l0 '(Fig. ,1) and'a laterally projecting heador bracket'arm H. The latter carries a pair of depending shafts. l2;.and [35 which carry, 1 respectively, thetwo'feed cupsll4gand;l.5. These .are* driven.. step.by step-:upon. operationof the machine through mechanism of the character disclosed :in' the patents above m ntioned. Itwill v:be understood thatthe shaft-J2 carrying the outer 'feedcup-is. adapted 1300 r be swung. outwardly .to

- facilitate theintroductionrof WOIk.. The stitch "forming ,devices areonly partially disclosed.

They. include a needle bar .lfi'rmounted forrecipr'ocation in a bearing sleeve [1 and carrying at its outer end a needle 16a (Fig. 7). A thread carrying looper is mounted for both reciprocation and oscillation in a bearing sleeve [8 while a spreader is mounted for oscillation only on a shaft l9 journaled in a bearing sleeve 20. It will be understood that these stitch forming elements are operated in coordinationto produce a-two thread overedge stitch'just above the upper edges of the rims of the feed cups l4 and I5, substantially at the bight of the cups.

The uncurler guide is carried by a head -21 suitably secured by a screw 2m to the end "of a sleeve (not shown) journaled in a horizontallyv ing 38 provided in each of the boots forming part of the members 3| and 32. A slight clearance is provided between the wall of the opening 38 and the outer surface of the pin to permit free relative movement of the parts as the upper ends of the members 3! and 32 are pinched together for the introduction of the work blank. A pornotch in the rearward edge of the boot.

cated at 39 (Fig. 4). This, in eifect, forms a The arrangementis-such that an upwardly extending projection 40 is provided in rear of the pin 31. Ihe upper edge- 0f projection 40 is smooth and disposed bearing 22 carried -'byth'earm l-l o'f thei frounded-offto av'oid danger of tearing the hosiery *bla'nk as-the latter is drawn through the uncurler -guide.-=The upper edge of the passage or frame. The arrangement is such that the head 2|; with its connected sleeve, may be "rotated through an angle of about 90 to place the uncurler guide either in its operativd position cut out portion of the boot is preferably also pro- --vided with a slight projection 4|, which extends shown in Fig. 1 or in an inoperative position in which itextends forwardly from the bearing 22. -It.-may also be held in anintermediaterloading position. Suitable means are provided fortswingi i'ng the guide structure-landifor retaining it in means may suitably be of .the character. disclo'se'd'in the-patent to Ha'cklander No.1 2,131,007, granted September 20,.1938;"or in' the'patent to Kucera' N0. 2,292,7fi2',- granted August 5 11, 1942. It includes a lever- 23"having a'finger portion. 23a at its outer end and secured to ashaftfllwhich 1 extends' through the sleeve on which the "head 2| ismounted. For fur-there detailsas to .the construction and operationbf the detent'or locking means, reference may be had to saidrKucera -"patent.

A plate-like support member 25- is 'seeured by screws 26 to a radially. extending portion 21b of 1 *the head 2 l Plate 11 25 is preferably provided 'slig'ht adjustment of the plate'in' relationto the head. A rib-"25a formed' on the plate cooperates -"w'ith a groovein-the par't llhoii the head.v 'At the lower end of the1plate-"there issecured a to the plate by welding or riveting-"or -the-like. -Blade 21' preferably has the configuration :1 indic'atedinFig; Z andserves as-a sta'tionary guide against-thei oppositetfaces ofiwhichth'eetwo edges t the .bla'nk to be-stitched are held; and along which they are drawns Jus't above the :bl'ade'. 21 th plate 25 has a pair-sof. laterally aiex'ten'ding -anns 28 which provide bearings 'cforx pivot pins 5129 and 3flicarried', respectively;:by hinge .portions ii of pressenmembers 3l.- iand.-32.t Screws :33and ---'-3:L serveto retain the pins 5 29.: iand :"30 41h fixed I elation to the memb'ers 4 3 l s and =32; respectively. :-':'At their lower .ends eachzofithemembers 3l.:.and 32 is provided with a boo'tp'ortionv 35 arranged to lie in flat surface engagementwithioneiofthe 60 ll faces of the blade '2lg A.spring36'.'which.has its 4 ends seated. in pockets formed in thempperends of the members .3l; and 32 and which. passes i thro'ugh a'suitable opening in the plate 25 serves tofurge themembers 3| and=32-into-the-position inwhichthe boots engage the-blade 21; or. the :1- work passing between .the boo ts and; .the -..blade. A guide pin 31 isssecured. to :the blade 21 in any suitable way.- It' may -bev formed. in two-:p'arts,

downwardly around the surface of the guide pin 37- but this-projection may, if -desi-red,-*be"elimi-- i hated andthe: upper edge of the passage -may :"then-be made substantially tangent to the opening 38 at its top, The :upperend of projection -any of the three positions' indicated. These 25 "40 is preferably substantially in the horizontal 1' plane: containing the axis of the pin-3T,- although it may be slightly above-or-;belowsuch plane. The rearward edge of the boot 35 ispreferably beveled as indicatedat 42'toprovidetheboot with a relatively sharp rearwardedge.

In the operation of the-machine a hosiery to Hacklander N0. 2,131,007; gran-ted September 20, 1938. -At this time the guide will bemidway "between its" operative and inoperative positions and will extend forwardly atan an'gleof about =-'45. with laterally elongated openings topermit 4c The boots 35 "are shifted outwardly away from Tthe stationary. guide 21 -by pinching together the'upper' ends of the" members 3| and 32.

The"point-'44"of the: toe is slipped overthe rear- 'zwardly' extending portion of the stationary guide Jblade ZPand one of thefselvage edges of the -relatively'thin-blade 21 whicli may be fastened gublanks is positioned along eachi-face of the blade I 2 1. Members 3 I :anda32: are then. released so-tliat as'the' boot's' are -:permitted to grip 'theitwoi'edgesaof ;?the blank zagainst the faceof the blade.'--'I-he i .swungI downwardly into the position indicated-in 'the'drawings and at the same time, the operator pulls-" the blank with her left hand to *start' the ets mto. operative position. Ininitiatingthe blank into the 'feed c'ups-"as the uncurler guide opera'tion' the p'oin=t 44' of the toe 'ofthe blank is presented at the point oi stitchi formation indicated by the needle -l' 6a. Now as the machine is set inioperation at normalspeed: the; blank will be advanced step by 'Step by the feed cups l 4 and: I 5 "and a 1 series of overedge 'sti'tche's will be *formed: as the successiveportions ofi. the? selvage edges are brought into the path 4 0t the needle.

As 1 the edge portions ot the blank -are drawn zagainst Ethe faces of the blade; 21.

J Normally: 1 in: seaming the foot portion: of the -one having internal 1'screw1threadstcooperating 'zd"b ank, up to t h r=and1a150 165831111- .wing' ofitheileg portion ofthe blank the latter? is E held by the. operator slightly below the guide pin with 'external screw threads on a 1 reduced portion of the-other half of the pinn The outer surface of the pin is smooth and ofiisubstantially A irusto conical form atv each-side: of the blade 21.

t. "3l.l-s.-.Howev.er, irr the-aforma'tion-i of: the heelthe :.blank is' lifted"slightly-"intoidefinite engagement -lThi's' is" to i-facilitate cooperation; withxanyopenvs'ie with-theguide spiniorder to catch agreater number of wales ofthe knit materialin: the seam. This' is to offset and. conceal .the imperfections in .the heel portion'of the blank normally present as the blank .comes from the knittingmachine.

' It also insures a stronger. seam which would oth- I erwise be weakened by the imperfections inthe blank. It is in the formation of the heel p01 tion of the stocking that difficulties are particularly encountered .in the use vof the uncurler guides as heretofore constructed; This, is due.

to the fact thatthe slightly liftedselvage edges tend to curl outwardly through the opening in the guide pin carried bysaid support andprojecting laterally therefrom, said pressermember having an opening alined with saidguide pin and arranged to receive the same, said presser member having a portion of itsedge removedto provide an externally communicating passage'from said opening in a region inrear of said guide pin, the portion of said presser member defining boots which receive the guide pin, and frequent:

ly these edges become wedged between the walls of the openingsandthe guide'pin. When this occurs puckering or pleating ofthe. seam takes place. The catching of the selvage-edge in the I manner explained occurs more frequentlyxwhen loose ends of the knitting thread are presentalong the selvage edge and this difficulty mayJthen arise even .in the seaming of thefoot and'leg portions of the stocking. If one :edge of the blank becomes caught in. the mannerindicated,

while the other remains free,thereisa'tendency to pucker or pleat the one edge and not theother with the .result that there is-a mismatching of the edges. 7 I The-provision of the passage or cut out 3.9.-in

rear of the opening 38 has been found to elimihate the tendency of either of the selvageedges to hang up between the guide pin and the opening. Even though aportion of the edge may curl out temporarily between the lower edge of theuide pink! and the wall of the opening, the

' material is drawn freely use; theopening'over the edge of the projection 40; --Furthermore, the latter serves to impart a second uncurling action .to the selvage edge as it isdrawn along the projection, i. e. between the latterand the blade 21. This second uncurling'faction .has been found to insure presentation'of the s'elvage edges correctly to the point. of stitchformation; The

danger. of including a curledportion of the edge in the seam is eliminated.

While an illustrative form of the invention has been disclosed in considerabledetail, it will be understood that various changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of the sevtal diameter of said opening.

the lower part of said opening being formedto 10.

provide a small upward projection in rear of said guide pin terminating adjacent the horizon- 3.. An uncurler-guide for hosiery seamers and the like which comprises a central support member, said member having a vertically disposed portion with flat work guiding surfaces on its opposite faces, a pair of presser elements pivotally mounted on said member and having surfaces adapted for engagement with said'work guiding surfaces, means for yieldingly urging said surfaces on said presser elements against said work guidingsurfaces, and a guide pin carried by said member and projecting laterally'from said work guiding surfaces, eachof said presser elements having an opening alined with said guide pin adapted to receive the same freely and having a passage extending rearwardly from 'said opening. 4. Ari-uncurler guide for hosiery seame'rs -and the like whichcomprisesa central support member, said member having a' vertically disposed portion with flat work guiding surfaces on its opposite faces, a pair of presser elements pivotally mounted on said member and having surfaces adapted for engagement with'saidwork guiding surfaces, means for 'yiel'dingly'ur'ging"saidsurfaces on said presser elements againstf-saidwo'rk guiding surfaces, and a guide pin carried lay-said member and projecting laterallyfrom s'a'idwork guiding surfaces, each of said p-resserelements having an opening-alined with said guidepin adapted to receive the same freely and having a passage extending rearwardly from said' opening, the lower edges of said opening and passage in each of said presser elements providing an upwardly and rearwardly extending surfacewarranged to guide and uncurl the corresponding edge of the work.

5. In a sewing machine having a pair of feed cups arranged for rotation about vertical axes and adapted to engage the opposite faces of a workpiece to feed the same and having stitch forming devices cooperating with the work in the region of the bite of said feed cups, the combination of an uncurler guide on the intake, side of the feed cups which comprises a central supassist in retaining and guiding the work, and a guide pin carriedby said support and projecting laterally therefrom in the region of said surfaces, said presser member having an opening alined with said guide pin and arranged to receive the same, said presser member having a portion, of its edge removed to provide an externally communicating passage from said opening in a region which is at least in part above the horizontal diameter thereof and in rear of said guide pin.

2. An uncurler guide for hosiery seamers and the like which comprises a central support having a fiat, vertically disposed work guiding surface, a spring urged presser member pivotally mounted on said support and having a surface cooperating with said surface of the support to assist in retaining and guiding the work, and a portm'ember, saidmember having a vertically disposed portion with flat work guiding surfaces "on itsopposite faces, a pair of presser elements pivotally mounted on said member andhaving" surfaces adapted for engagement with said work guiding surfaces, said surfaces extending to a point adjacent the bite of said feed cups, means for yieldingly urging said surfaces onsaid presser elements against said work guiding surfaces, and

..- a guide pin carried by said member and projecting laterally from said work guiding surfaces,

each of said presser elements having an opening alined with said guide pin adapted to receive the same freely and having a'passage extending rearwardly from said opening slightly above the plane of the tops of the feed cups.

6. Ina sewing machine having a pair of feed cups arranged for rotation about vertical axes and adapted to engage the opposite faces of a Wam umm feed?the sa-me and havingi-stitch forming-: devices cooperating -with: the' works in the re'gion 'of the bite of said feed cups, the combination ofzan- -uncurler iguide' on the' intakeiside ofithe feed cups-which comprises a: central supportzmembergsaidgmember having. a vertically dispos'ed:portion' withsflat workzguiding surfaces -r-on its opposite faces, a :pair of z'presser lelem'ents pi votany mounted oni saichm'emberf and Ehaving -suh-Ieiceshdaptedfor engagementrwitn said 'work "guiding :smfacesj. saidsuriaces? extendingitc a point adjacent theibite ofi sai'di feeducups;:means I 'iorwyieldingly urgingtsaid surfacesziorr 'sai'd/presser elementsiagainstsaid':work gui'dingx'airfacesyand a guide pir'ncarriedibyisaid".memberandzprojects mgolatera-llyi-rfrom;.saidawvork;.guiding ssurfaces -fslightly fabovesthe'iplaneiof the topsfofrtherfeed icups i' each 1 of? said'tpresser" elements :havingzian :2; opening;- alined rlwithn said guide ipin adapted J-to "-1 receive-thesanfef =freely: and-having arpassage ex- 1 1::tending 'rrearwardlys from-said 1 opening slightly iza'bove the plane. of thetops ofthe feectcups, the flower edge of saidpassage :being' :disp osed. subtantiallyvin the horizontal plane containing the ;-:axis ofssaid-guidepin. kg, 7 u

kiln a:sew;ingzmachine having a -pairi of'feed --:-cups arrang-ed for-:rotation about werticalaxes and adapted to engage the oppos-ite faces of a v workpiece to feed the same and having stitch Y formingdevices cooperatin with the'work in the region of the bite of said feed cups, the combinawtion of an uncurler guide onthe intake side of the feed cups which comprises a central support .member,-said member having a vertically dis- .posed portionwith-flat work guiding surfaces on;

opposite: faces, a pair of presser elements pivotally mounted on said member andhaving surfaces adapted forengagement withsaid work guiding surfaces, said surfaces extending to a point adjacent the bite of saidfeed cups -rneans for yieldingly urging'said surfaces on-saidpresser 1 elements against said work guidin surfaces; and aguide pin carriedby said member and project- 8 .i-ing'a laterallyrfrom: said cwork: guiding surfaces, hi ofisaid pressenielements having an: opening Lia-lined'witmsaidrguide;pin Ladapted to'receive the li'sameifreemiandzhavingama'ssagezextendmgrear- 5 zwardlyafromzzsaidiopenings: each of said :presser eaa'lementsmavingian upwardlyrand'rearwardly ex- 'tending'i surfaceiintfrontii of :isaid guide pin ar- --Era1iged tolgui'deand uncurl' one. of thetup'per edges ofithe'wvork, and-isthe :lowerifedgesi of said opening 10s ndapassage inieazch-iofzsaidrpresser elements proi. din s::ani:upward1y-. :and:rearwardly extending urfacewrranged:totguide'andtuncurl ether correspondmg-2edge':of :the "work.

'8'. An auncurleri'guidesfor"hosieryfiseamers: and thedikeiwhichfzcomprises a central-support memzeaber; saidi membersshaving a: vertically disposed portion iwitlrfiflah worlc oguidingfsurfaces .on 1 its i; yrmounted'r onis'aidtmember andfhaving .surf aces 20: dapted: f or: engagement Iwithssaid work .cguiding tsurfaces',".-:means foreyieldinglyiurgingz said surt faces om'saidzpresserieiements against said'iwork zguidingsurf-aces; and aiguidexipimcarried by said Tmember\ and'zprojectings;laterally "from said work 25 iIguidi-ng sur'facesgneach" ofssaid presser. elements i-fhavings an -aopening ialined; ;:withi said guide pin adapted to receive the same freely andlhaving aIpassageiiextending:rearwatdlyfrom: said'open tinge-in. av qilaneiep arallel pwitlzc aand adj acent the .4 301: relatedsmorkgiiguidingfii surface: of said 1' support :member.

' 3} Il DE HARROD.

- Beferen'ce's't(llted in'the' file ofthis patent ppositafaces, .aapaix'. offpresser elements 'p-ivotal- 

